38 58 10.92 N,75 52 0.00 W,Highland Aerosports, Ridgely,
Maryland, USA

Mitch Shipley <<elektratow>> writes:

Post Highland Aerosports ECC wrap up:

• Everything included in the $500 registration fee – comp, tows, camping, endless keg, a dinner and then a feast on the last night.


• So organized, thanks to Sunny and Adam, that being laid back was too easy


• World class meet director, Davis – oh yeah, he ran the last World Championships…..


• World class tug pilots (Jim – just back from NZ, Zac and Jim) and tow planes


• Four tasks of one-ish to three-ish hours on course


• Each day an in-flight technical challenge of evaluating varying conditions - sea/bay breezes, clouds/cirrus, wind drift/positioning


• Two task lessons in how to go 20-ish miles only getting 2500-ish AGL, including my PR of going 9 miles over 30 minutes between 500-1000-ish feet AGL with Davis, as we drifted by the first turnpoint!


• Competing with four current or previous US National Team members (Larry, Linda, Davis and Mitch)


• Local sky gods (John, Bob, JD and Jim M.) kicking the butt of the US National Team - no respect for their elders!


• Rigid wing cross-over pilot Bruce almost takes the meet – OK, not his first flex rodeo!


• Movie (the new Star Trek flick!) and Sushi night.


• Dog party/reunions/play days between Awesome Retrieve dogs Vido and Meesha and the incorrigible Frank – some veterinary attention required later for Frank.


• Narrow misses by several pilots of almost being beagle puppy owners (Step away from the Puppy Crack!!!)


• A sport class that was hotly contested and almost as big as the Open Class – and Michelle made her first goal (our future Woman’s National Champion?!?) as Kip narrowly held off Nick, Brian and Matt for the win!


• Day long harness adjustment seminar by Sunny, 6030 Comp setup seminar by Mitch


• No driver? No problem! All the drivers (I personally got rides from Belinda, Sue, Mary, and Jim Prahl after he towed!) shared the load and picked up the wayward pilots with no plan.


• Well over a grand in prize money split between the three top spots

This was my third year and each has been a blast from all aspects. Can’t wait for next year. Definitely the most laid back, fun, technical flying bang for the buck of any of the Cat 2 US meets!! Oh yeah, it didn’t hurt that I won this year – my first Cat 2 win!